Global efforts to harness wind, wave and tidal power for electricity generation are to be the focus of a major international conference being held in the county next week.

Renewable Realities 2002 is the first event of its kind to fully examine the practical implementation of renewable energy systems.

Around 200 delegates are set to attend the conference, making it one of the biggest ever held in the islands.

Stromness will play host to the event, scheduled to run between Tuesday and Thursday October 15 to 17.

Some 40 speakers, including many key figures from the renewable energy sector, will make presentations to the conference on a wide range of related issues. A major exhibition of renewable technology is being planned, along with visits to key sites associated with wind and wave energy in Orkney.

Deputy First Minister of Scotland, Mr Jim Wallace, also Orkney’s MSP, will open the event in the Stromness Academy at 10am on Tuesday.

The conference has been organised by Stromness-based environmental consultants, Aquatera, on behalf of the Orkney Renewable Energy Forum – a body which draws together some 30 local organisations associated with renewable energy projects.

Aquatera’s managing director, Dr Gareth Davies, said the conference would provide a unique opportunity for everyone involved in renewable energy to share their experiences and exchange ideas.

“This is the first time such an event has been held in an area where renewable energy resources actually exist,” he said. “It is a rapidly evolving and highly complex field, with considerable challenges facing those developing ideas from the design stage, through to production of practical and viable wave, wind and tidal power systems. The conference presents an ideal opportunity to work through some of the issues and problems associated with the development of these systems, and identify ways forward.”

Dr Davies said it was most appropriate that Orkney should host an event of this kind, focusing on the practical realities of developing and implementing renewable energy systems.

“Here in the islands we not only have tremendous renewable energy resources, we also have considerable experience of actually harnessing those resources,” he said. “Orkney has been home to an extensive testing and development programme for wind turbines – involving some of the largest systems ever built – and will shortly become the base for a major marine energy test centre. Orkney is very much a place where renewables are a reality.”

Dr Davies hoped one of the outcomes from the conference would be a declaration from delegates on the best way to move Orkney, Scotland and areas further afield, forward towards greater utilisation of their natural energy sources.

“The Scottish Executive are currently seeking feedback on its proposal that as much as 40 per cent of the country’s electricity should come from renewable sources by 2020,” said Dr Davies. “The conference provides the ideal opportunity for all those involved in renewable energy to speak with one voice in response to the Executive’s proposal.”

Further information on the event can be found at www.renewablerealities.com, or by telephoning Aquatera on 01856 850088.